Emergency Funding

Our Emergency Loans program offers short-term, interest-free loans designed to cover temporary financial shortfalls due to delays in funding (e.g., government student loan is late) or unexpected expenses (e.g., necessary car repairs, emergency dental work). Loans can also help temporarily cover essential living expenses, such as rent or groceries. Loans cannot be used to pay for any university tuition or fees. If your financial shortfall is not temporary or short-term, please refer to the Supplementary Bursary program for non-repayable funding support.

Loans are expected to be fully repaid within six months of the loan disbursement. This ensures that other students are able to benefit from the program. In order to receive a loan, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan within a 6-month time period*. A financial hold will be automatically placed on your student account if there is a balance owing on your loan by your due date. Financial holds restrict your ability to register in courses and access official documentation such as transcripts or degree parchments. For more information about this policy see the University Calendar ("Overdue Accounts").

*Note that this due date may be shortened for students who are convocating.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for an emergency loan, you must:

Be a current University of Alberta student eligible to continue in your undergraduate or graduate program

Have satisfactory academic standing based on your most recent term

Undergraduate students: minimum 2.0 GPA

Graduate students: minimum 2.7 GPA

Be able to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan

Be able to demonstrate that you are facing urgent financial issues

How to apply

Book an appointment with an advisor to discuss your financial situation and present documentation that supports your financial need. To schedule an appointment, contact Student Connect. Be sure to accept the appointment in your calendar and check your Spam folder in case our message is not making it to your inbox. (If filling out the email form, select “Emergency Funding Appointments” as the subject.)

Complete and submit the online application at least one business day prior to your appointment.

On the day of your appointment, bring along your ONEcard as well as evidence of your ability to repay the emergency loan within six months (e.g., upcoming government student loan disbursement, pay slips, letter of employment).

U of A students who are not on the main campus during their study period: Email bursaries@ualberta.ca to discuss appointment options.

Receiving funds

If your application is approved by your advisor at your consultation session, you will be given the option to receive your loan via same-day e-transfer or same-day cash payment. Cash payments are disbursed on the third floor of the Administration Building, at the Financial Services office.

Repaying your loan

Payments can now be paid online through the following Canadian banks: ATB, TD/Canada Trust, Scotia, CIBC, Royal, and Simplii.

If your bank is not listed here, please let us know by emailing us (bursaries@ualberta.ca) so that we can contact that bank to set up the University of Alberta (Emergency Loan) bill payment option.

To make payments online, follow these steps:

Log in to your bank's website with your bank card number and password.

Click the link to pay a bill and add a payee/biller.

Search the words University Alberta (*no "of")

Click on the result named University Alberta Emergency LN or Loan

Enter your account number as your 7-digit student ID number plus the first 4 letters of your last name. If your last name is shorter than 4 letters, enter the letters of your last name followed by letters from your first name (up to 4 letters in total).

Example: Suzy Smith -- 1234567SMIT

Example: Suzy Cho -- 1234567CHOS

Make a payment.

To make payments in person, visit Financial Services on the third floor of the Administration Building. Note that office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. only. Accepted forms of in-person payment include debit, cash, cheque, and money order.